Blog post October 16, 2026

I would like to learn just one thing from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish after beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

If I were to ask you what role the Holy Spirit plays in your life, would you be able tell me?

We see the role of all three persons of the Trinity in salvation. Jesus told us that no one comes unto the Father except by coming through Him, but no one comes to Him unless drawn by the Father. Jesus said unto Nicodemus that which has been born of the flesh is flesh and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where its comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.

So the Father draws one to Jesus, Jesus is the means by which we are saved, but the Holy Spirit is the one who initiates new life in Christ. Beyond salvation we have a tendency to forget the role of the Spirit in our lives. Many average believers describe the Spirit as a feeling, a conscience, or a vague Divine presence rather than a distinct, personal member of the Godhead at work daily in our lives.

Paul asked the question did you receive the Holy Spirit by works or by faith? Are you so foolish to think that you were born of the Spirit but now you're trying to finish the race on your own?

Many also confine the Spirits role as to One who gives them understanding when they open the scriptures, making verses come alive. But once understood we must role up our sleves and get to work. We must have more discipline, more consistency, more control. Our spiritual life maybe started as a gift but it must be sustained by grit. So we tighten our grip. We measure progress. We promise we'll do better this week. But resurrection life was never meant to be sustained by willpower. The same Spirit who awakened us unto faith, is the One who shapes Christ in us.

So I would encourage each of us today to pause as we go through our day and ask ourselves are we trying to do this in our own strength, or are we relying on the Holy Spirit?

Heavenly Father I pray that today You will help us strive less and surender more. To walk in step with the Spirit in our lives today. I suspect You are trying to speak to us and help us much more than we realize. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see. I pray in Jesus name. AMEN AMEN